Identification and assessment of sustainability effects associated with biogas solutions
The report ‘Identification and assessment of sustainability effects associated with biogas solutions – Literature review and perspectives from five countries’ examines the multifaceted role of biogas solutions in advancing a circular and sustainable bioeconomy. Biogas, produced via anaerobic digestion from various organic feedstocks (wastewater sludge, agricultural residues, food waste, manure), delivers renewable energy, reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and offers additional societal benefits such as nutrient recycling, waste treatment, and improved sanitation.
The main report identifies a broad range of, in total 53, sustainability effects, which have been grouped along five ‘lenses’:
- Waste and wastewater treatment sectors: Enhanced sanitation, odor control, water quality improvement.
- Biogas in Agriculture/rural areas: Income diversification, soil fertility improvement through digestate, reduced synthetic fertilizer use.
- The use of digestate/biofertilizers: Closing nutrient loops and protecting soils and water.
- Energy products (biogas, biomethane, CO₂): Secure, renewable energy contributing to energy independence.
- Effects on society at large: Climate mitigation, circular economy, and resilience to supply chain risks.
The analysis highlights that while GHG reduction is widely recognized, other positive sustainability effects are often undervalued in decision-making because they are hard to quantify. Examples of comprehensive assessments (e.g., Swedish multi-criteria analyses for transport) show biogas is socio-economically competitive compared to both fossil and renewable alternatives when co-benefits are considered.
Experiences from Canada, France, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland demonstrate that policy frameworks, infrastructure, and local context shape outcomes. Strong adoption is linked to supportive policies, digestate standards, and integrated strategies. The reports conclude with recommendations: holistic sustainability assessments, cross-sectoral collaboration, coherent policy frameworks, and clear targets for biogas and its byproducts.
Key highlights for policymakers to take away from this report
- Biogas delivers multi-sector benefits, beyond energy
Biogas solutions simultaneously address climate, waste management, nutrient recovery, and rural development. Recognizing these co-benefits in policy frameworks ensures better resource allocation and maximizes societal returns.
- Policy design determines competitiveness
Comprehensive policies enabling value chain integration, infrastructure development, and removal of administrative barriers are critical for realizing the full potential of biogas. Without such frameworks, biogas risks losing ground to other renewable options despite its broader sustainability contributions.
The report has been produced by Task 37 (Energy from Biogas) of the IEA Bioenergy TCP.
